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Kuwait eyes cultural revival as Capital of Arab Culture 2025

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Balancing heritage and modernity, Kuwait aims to strengthen regional cultural role

KUWAIT: As Kuwait assumes the title of Capital of Arab Culture 2025, attention turns to its evolving cultural policy, which straddles the line between preserving national identity and expanding international cultural influence. Melissa Tedafi, a contemporary history specialist in Franco-Arabic cultural diplomacy and policies at Nantes Université, outlined Kuwait’s cultural ambitions during a roundtable at the University of Strasbourg’s Middle East and Muslim World Studies Congress. She highlighted how these ambitions are shaped by the country’s historical legacy, institutional challenges and modern aspirations within a competitive Gulf context.

“Cultural policies in Kuwait constitute an area of public intervention at the crossroads of national identity, social development, and international openness,” Tedafi explained. “They are part of a dynamic that is both conservative and modernizing.” This duality is a defining feature of Kuwait’s cultural landscape. On one hand, the state works to preserve its traditional roots and heritage; on the other, it seeks to become a regional hub for intellectual and artistic exchange.

A legacy of cultural pioneering

Tedafi noted that Kuwait’s cultural influence predates its independence in 1961. In the mid-20th century, it became a haven for Arab intellectuals fleeing authoritarian regimes, establishing itself early on as a center for artistic and intellectual life. “Even before independence, Kuwait positioned itself as a major intellectual and artistic center, welcoming Arab thinkers and writers fleeing nationalist or Islamist dictatorships,” she said.

This pioneering role was driven by two key forces: An educated Kuwaiti elite committed to modernist values and openness, and a desire to carve out a distinct national identity amidst regional giants such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Today, the government continues to reinforce this identity through institutions like the Department of Antiquities and Museums and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL). Strategies include educational outreach, youth engagement and the training of tourist guides and cultural mediators.

Gulf War trauma and institutional fragmentation

Kuwait’s cultural momentum suffered a major setback during the 1990 Iraqi invasion, a trauma that still echoes in national memory. “The Iraqi soldiers looted and burned the national museum to erase all traces of national identity. Only part of the objects were recovered by the state,” Tedafi said. Beyond this historical trauma, structural challenges persist. While the NCCAL remains the main institution safeguarding Kuwait’s heritage, Tedafi noted that weak inter-institutional coordination hampers cohesive cultural development. “Cultural policies are often dependent on one-off initiatives, poorly articulated with global foreign policy. This fragmentation harms any coherent soft power strategy.”

Constraints of conservatism

Despite enjoying relatively greater press freedom than some Gulf states, cultural expression in Kuwait is constrained by conservative laws and social norms. “Kuwaiti culture is governed by restrictive legislation: Censorship of artistic works deemed ‘immoral’ or ‘blasphemous’, publication bans, legal sanctions against critical authors,” Tedafi said. “This control considerably limits cultural vitality, and consequently the country’s ability to project an image of openness and intellectual freedom.” These limitations present a challenge to Kuwait’s efforts to present itself as a tolerant and diverse cultural space — a key objective in light of the 2025 designation.

A strategic soft power shift

Despite these constraints, Kuwait views culture as a pillar of both national cohesion and international diplomacy. “The designation of Kuwait as Capital of Arab Culture 2025 represents a major opportunity to consolidate the country’s position as a leading cultural center in the Arab world,” Tedafi emphasized. “It allows the country to reveal its commitment to creativity, tolerance, and cultural diversity, while providing a platform to showcase achievements in the arts and strengthen intercultural dialogue internationally.” The year ahead offers Kuwait a unique chance to align its cultural ambitions with tangible execution — if it can overcome institutional fragmentation and ideological barriers.

A modest yet strategic regional model

Unlike Gulf neighbors such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which pursue cultural dominance through lavish investments in projects like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Education City, Kuwait follows a more restrained path. “Since the 2000s, Kuwait has been part of a regional trend where culture becomes a tool for soft power,” Tedafi observed. “However, unlike Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, which rely on massive investments, Kuwait adopts a more modest approach, but no less strategic.”

This strategy is built on three pillars: Promoting national heritage, particularly maritime history, Bedouin traditions, calligraphy and vernacular architecture; supporting local cultural industries such as theater and popular music, where Kuwait has historical strengths; and fostering international educational and cultural partnerships, including Arabizing scholarships, co-financing events in the West and active engagement with UNESCO.

The Capital of Arab Culture 2025 title presents a rare opening for Kuwait to redefine its cultural standing. To fully seize this moment, the country must pursue greater institutional coherence, loosen restrictive cultural laws and invest steadily in both domestic arts and international outreach. Standing at a critical crossroads, Kuwait must now choose whether to continue its path of strategic modesty — or lead with a bold, culturally vibrant model of soft power in the Arab world.

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Kuwait committed to protecting creativity and innovation

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KUWAIT: Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment on Wednesday to safeguarding creativity and innovation across commercial and industrial sectors linked to human intellectual achievements. The country emphasized its dedication to working with international partners to establish a balanced and effective global intellectual property (IP) system that promotes innovation and supports sustainable development.

This was highlighted in a speech by Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayyen, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, during the General Assembly meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Ambassador Al-Hayyen stressed Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to strengthen technical cooperation programs with WIPO, recognizing the organization’s critical role in advancing national IP initiatives. He further highlighted Kuwait’s focus on developing the intellectual property sector, supporting creators and inventors, and raising community awareness about the significance of IP rights and their positive impact on economic growth and social progress.

In this regard, Ambassador Al-Hayyen announced that Kuwait will host the 15th International Invention Fair in the Middle East in February 2025. The event is expected to attract more than 180 inventors from 42 countries, showcasing approximately 230 inventions across various fields. He noted the high-level support and sponsorship the fair receives from both national and international institutions, underscoring Kuwait’s dedication to fostering innovation and supporting inventors. He also referenced the national forum held in April 2025 to commemorate World Intellectual Property Day, which brought together intellectual property offices for dialogue and exchange of experiences.

Ambassador Al-Hayyen praised the successful Diplomatic Conference hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which led to the adoption of the “Riyadh Treaty on Design Law.” He described the treaty as a major international achievement that simplifies global procedures for protecting industrial designs. The ambassador further commended WIPO’s vital role in providing technical assistance and capacity building to member states, lauding its focus on enhancing technical capabilities. Kuwait expressed appreciation for the organization’s projects and cooperation programs aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of national intellectual property offices. — KUNA

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Ministry supports initiatives aimed at helping the disabled

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KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah reaffirmed on Wednesday her commitment to supporting initiatives and programs aimed at improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities and ensuring their full inclusion in society. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following her meeting with United Nations Secretary-General’s Representative and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Ghada Al-Taher and President of Kuwait College of Science and Technology Dr Khaled Al-Beqaeen, the minister emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation to advance social development and promote inclusive services.

KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwaila with the UN Secretary-General’s Representative and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Ghada Al-Taher and President of Kuwait College of Science and Technology Dr. Khaled Al-Beqaeen.- KUNA photos

KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwaila with the UN Secretary-General’s Representative and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Ghada Al-Taher and President of Kuwait College of Science and Technology Dr. Khaled Al-Beqaeen.- KUNA photos

The meeting discussed enhancing partnerships between the ministry, the college, and the UN office in areas related to social development and collaborative projects. Discussions also touched on the Ministry’s sponsorship of the Second International Technology Conference and Forum for People with Special Needs, which aims to leverage innovation in support of accessibility and empowerment.

Dr Al-Huwailah added that the parties also explored potential coordination on the sidelines of the upcoming 11th Ministerial Conference of the Committee of Ministers of Social Affairs and Development of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), scheduled to take place in Kuwait in September. She reiterated the ministry’s commitment to fostering joint action that advances the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and supports broader regional development goals. — KUNA

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Lammy’s visit underscores deep friendship

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KUWAIT: The United Kingdom’s commitment to its longstanding friendship with Kuwait was reaffirmed this week during an official visit by the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, who was honored to meet with senior Kuwaiti leadership for the 2025 UK-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue.

The UK Foreign Secretary was received by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al – Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. Discussions reflected the strength of the historic relationship between Kuwait and the United Kingdom that spans over 250 years and touched on a wide range of shared interests including regional affairs, defense cooperation, trade and investment and international development partnerships.

As part of the visit, two MoUs were signed between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, on providing joint emergency humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflicts in Somalia and Sudan. Both parties will provide a total contribution of five million dollars to support ICRC’s humanitarian work in Somalia and a total of 10 million dollars to support UNICEF’s work in sustaining vital primary healthcare, nutrition and child protection services in Sudan.

These agreements represent an important step in continuing to build the UK-Kuwait international development partnership following the success of the first joint project in September 2024, which provided aid to Gaza and Yemen. The visit also included a meeting with Minister of Finance & Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Noura Al-Fassam, where discussions focused on bilateral trade now totaling £6.1 billion per year & investment, advancements on UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations and UK’s interest in Kuwait’s Vision 2035.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary visited the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to meet with Chairman Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al-Sabah and one of several British Kuwaiti joint venture businesses contributing to Kuwait’s economic development – Kuwait British Renewables. The meeting underlined the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting private sector collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation between the two countries. A special meeting was also held with young Kuwaiti diplomats and professionals at Saud Al Nasser Al Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The Foreign Secretary commended their passion, talent and global outlook, and welcomed their role in shaping the future of Kuwait-UK relations.

The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, commented on the bilateral relationship stating: “Kuwait and the United Kingdom have an enduring, close, deep friendship bounded by people-to-people and strong cultural links, a strong defense and security partnership, we’ve been trading for over 250 years and our first bilateral relations go back to 1899 of course supplemented by the relationship between our two royal families. I am in Kuwait to conduct a strategic dialogue, an important strategic dialogue that sets up the next era of our relations. There’s more we can do on trade, and business, and investment, there’s more that we can do on security and defense at this challenging time for global security and peace particularly here in the Middle East.” Reflecting on the visit, British Ambassador Belinda Lewis, stated: “This visit marks another chapter in over 125 years of close friendship between Kuwait and the United Kingdom. It comes at a time of deepening cooperation across numerous sectors including trade, humanitarian development and cultural exchange. The British Embassy in Kuwait looks forward to building on the momentum of this important visit and continuing to work in partnership with Kuwaiti institutions for the benefit of both our peoples.”

Head of ICRC GCC Regional Delegation, Mamadou Sow stated: “This joint commitment by the Kuwait Fund and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sends a strong signal of solidarity with the people of Somalia. With their support, we’re able to deliver essential health and water services in areas where needs are urgent and often invisible. It’s a testament to the power of principled humanitarian action and to the leadership of Kuwait and the UK in placing humanity at the heart of international cooperation.”

UNICEF Gulf Area Office Representative, Eltayeb Adam noted: “This generous joint contribution from the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office and the Kuwait Fund comes at a critical time for children in Sudan. It is more than financial support; it is a lifeline. This partnership shows what’s possible when long-standing partners unite with a shared purpose: to protect children’s rights, restore essential services, and bring hope to those affected by crisis. UNICEF deeply values this growing humanitarian collaboration, which is helping build a more resilient future for Sudan’s most vulnerable children.”

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